Scan barcode
carlyjoann's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was my first time reading this book and I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. It always taken me a little bit to get into a classic written in this way but once I did I breezed through the story. It was very compelling and made me want to keep reading.
I like Jane a lot. She is firm in her beliefs and in her sense of self. I enjoyed her inner monologues at times.
I didn’t like Mr Rochester at first,his whole Gypsy scheme and using Blanche to make Jane jealous were not great. Plus him hiding a mad wife in the house and not telling Jane until forced. But after the fire and death of his wife I could see a little change in him. And since Jane was so in love with him I was okay with them ending up together.
I really did not like St John at all. He felt like a gaslighter and self righteous. I did really like his sisters though and loved that Jane had finally found a family to belong with.
I like Jane a lot. She is firm in her beliefs and in her sense of self. I enjoyed her inner monologues at times.
I didn’t like Mr Rochester at first,
I really did not like St John at all. He felt like a gaslighter and self righteous. I did really like his sisters though and loved that Jane had finally found a family to belong with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
nahret's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Where to begin? I love Jane. She is a most atypical heroine for her time period, which makes her all the more compelling. I am in awe of Brontë's clear vision for her protagonist.
I have historically been struggling with excessively detailed descriptions of both nature and architecture in books, but that is a sign of the times, I suppose. The story is generally rather slow-paced, giving one ample opportunity to look closely at everything. But what a story it is! One of the quintessential gothic tales, set in a haunted house with a dark and brooding master. It is a classic for a reason.
I must say, I did not appreciate Jane's headlong flight into the night, without even the hint of a plan; even knowing the outcome, I feared for her then. As I did when she was subjected to the Calvinist ramblings of St. John Rivers. "[...] you are made for labour, not for love!" is probably the worst "compliment" I've heard in my life.
The topic of religion is a kind of Leitmotiv in this novel. Jane's relationship to Christianity is tested repeatedly, and she spends a lot of time analysing her views on faith, and how they align with her own moral principles. Religious bigotry is being recognized and called out as such. Again, I feel that for their time, Jane's intellectual analysis and often critical views were extraordinary to read.
I listened to an audiobook read by British actress Thandiwe Newton. She expertly endowed Jane's voice with the full range of human emotion, from the most fragile to the most forceful. I had never previously thought about it, but I found it amazing how she managed to make me hear Jane's inward laughter without actually making the usually associated sounds. Masterful.
I have historically been struggling with excessively detailed descriptions of both nature and architecture in books, but that is a sign of the times, I suppose. The story is generally rather slow-paced, giving one ample opportunity to look closely at everything. But what a story it is! One of the quintessential gothic tales, set in a haunted house with a dark and brooding master. It is a classic for a reason.
I must say, I did not appreciate Jane's headlong flight into the night, without even the hint of a plan; even knowing the outcome, I feared for her then. As I did when she was subjected to the Calvinist ramblings of St. John Rivers. "[...] you are made for labour, not for love!" is probably the worst "compliment" I've heard in my life.
The topic of religion is a kind of Leitmotiv in this novel. Jane's relationship to Christianity is tested repeatedly, and she spends a lot of time analysing her views on faith, and how they align with her own moral principles. Religious bigotry is being recognized and called out as such. Again, I feel that for their time, Jane's intellectual analysis and often critical views were extraordinary to read.
I listened to an audiobook read by British actress Thandiwe Newton. She expertly endowed Jane's voice with the full range of human emotion, from the most fragile to the most forceful. I had never previously thought about it, but I found it amazing how she managed to make me hear Jane's inward laughter without actually making the usually associated sounds. Masterful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
unabanuna's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Read it as a teenager for school but didn't like it - thought I'd give it another go as it might be more enjoyable now as an adult. No, I didn't enjoy it this time around either.
Can appreciate the writing is good etc but just didn't enjoy the book and felt it was a struggle to finish.
Can appreciate the writing is good etc but just didn't enjoy the book and felt it was a struggle to finish.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
judassilver's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Suicide, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
bashsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It is my current opinion that Emily Brontë was the best writer amongst her sisters, which is a shame given she has the smallest corpus.
That said, I liked Charlotte's Jane Eyre better than Anne's Agnes Grey. Jane is an endearing character, one who is far more flexible in her morality and ambiguous in her actions (though not too much so, I assume, to make her unsympathetic to contemporary readers, which is kind of a shame to me as a modern reader, but I digress). Mr. Rochester is a fucking piece of work, and I do hate him, but I totally understand why Jane wants to fuck him. I'm weirdly charmed by St. John Rivers as well, but he's also an asshole, and why are all these men trying to manipulate my girl Jane? On a somewhat related note, it's so funny that Jane's ugly appearance comes up CONSTANTLY. And that Jane's Aunt Mrs. Reed has beef with her. Like, she's ten.
I'm fascinated by Bertha Mason and the idea of a dude having a crazy wife he keeps in the attic, so I will be reading Wide Sargasso Sea. I also think Jane's life would've been better if she'd decided to be a lesbian spinster with the Rivers sisters.
That said, I liked Charlotte's Jane Eyre better than Anne's Agnes Grey. Jane is an endearing character, one who is far more flexible in her morality and ambiguous in her actions (though not too much so, I assume, to make her unsympathetic to contemporary readers, which is kind of a shame to me as a modern reader, but I digress). Mr. Rochester is a fucking piece of work, and I do hate him, but I totally understand why Jane wants to fuck him. I'm weirdly charmed by St. John Rivers as well, but he's also an asshole, and why are all these men trying to manipulate my girl Jane? On a somewhat related note, it's so funny that Jane's ugly appearance comes up CONSTANTLY. And that Jane's Aunt Mrs. Reed has beef with her. Like, she's ten.
I'm fascinated by Bertha Mason and the idea of a dude having a crazy wife he keeps in the attic, so I will be reading Wide Sargasso Sea. I also think Jane's life would've been better if she'd decided to be a lesbian spinster with the Rivers sisters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Racial slurs, Suicide, Alcohol, and Colonisation
-Ableism abound of both the mental and physical varieties -Missionary work portrayed as a good thingphilosopher_kj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
I'm kind of shocked I'd never read this (at least as far as I remember), but am glad I finally did. Everybody who messed with my girl Jane Eyre can suck it; she's a queen. I love how sassy she is, and can appreciate how shocking the character must've been at the time it was written. I agree with other reviews I've read that said this is not a romance. Rather, it's not "just" a romance; it's a Gothic novel set in the moors of rural England. Gorgeous and atmospheric.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
camiandkitread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Charlotte Brontë’s atmospheric novel “Jane Eyre” explores themes of social criticism, personal growth, and romance through the story of its titular heroine. The novel begins with Jane's childhood, which were marked by cruelty and neglect as an orphan under the care of her cruel aunt and cousins. Despite the bleakness of her situation, Jane's resilience shines, setting the stage for her transformation. Her fortunes improve when she secures a position as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the enigmatic Mr. Edward Rochester. Their initial interactions are fraught with tension until affection slowly blooms between them. However, societal expectations create significant obstacles for their budding romance.
The relationship between Jane and Rochester is further complicated by the revelation of dark, long-hidden secrets that threaten the life they hope to build together. This twist adds suspense and drama, as Jane must confront her own values and make a difficult choice. Brontë skillfully balances elements of mystery and romance with broader themes of social inequality and moral integrity. Jane’s journey is not only about finding love, but also about navigating Victorian social structures and personal dilemmas.
Jane Eyre is a particularly fascinating character due to her morose and introspective personality, which provides her with remarkable depth and complexity. Her life is marked by significant hardships that result in constant self-reflection and character growth. The first-person narration allows readers to intimately experience Jane’s internal struggles, her search for self-worth, and her unwavering commitment to her moral principles. Despite enduring various forms of abuse—both physical and emotional—Jane remains steadfast in her pursuit of authenticity and justice. Her ability to rise above continual adversity makes her a character of enduring relevance, as readers continue to resonate with her personal trials and triumphs. Since its publication in 1847, “Jane Eyre” has remained an influential work, largely due to introspective, melancholic personality.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
discodetective's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A re-read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Suicide, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Colonisation
kirjakimalainen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
The writing is great of course but i honestly saw the story more as horror than romance. Like this is absolutely not a relationship i'd want to end up in
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Suicide